Source: The National

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill says a ministerial committee to implement the recommendations from the inquiry into Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) will meet next week.

This follows concerns by Enosh Janduo, the president of the Sausse local level government (LLG) in Yangoru-Saussia district,  East Sepik, during a visit to Yangoru on Wednesday.

Janduo told O’Neill that the people were victims of the SABL where there had been a lot of land grabbing.

“We are concerned about Portion 144C, a piece of land located in the Sepik Plains.

“Landowners who own this piece of land have been stripped off its ownership,” he said.

O’Neill said the implementation of the inquiry’s recommendations would lead to the revocation of many illegal leases.

He said the SABL was introduced to develop the agriculture sector but many abused it and converted it into forestry development.

O’Neill said because of this, the Government set up the inquiry which came up with recommendations.

“Many of these leases and SABLs that were wrongly issued will be cancelled. Many people or landowners have lost the right to their own land because of SABLs,” he said.